Bolthole Index

Logan County, Kentucky

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Logan County, Kentucky

65Index Score / 100
#52 of 120 in Kentucky

Logan County, Kentucky has no confirmed local rule in the county record establishing whether a permit is required for a single-family home, so ask the county before building. Kentucky's baseline is that permits, inspections and certificates of occupancy are not required for a single-family dwelling unless a local ordinance requires them1. Septic is definite: obtain the onsite-sewage permit from the local health department before installation2.

At a glance

Building permit
Local requirement unconfirmed; Kentucky requires one for a single-family dwelling only if a local ordinance does1
Zoning
No Logan County zoning ordinance confirmed; ask which planning body covers the parcel3
Septic permit
Required before installing or altering an onsite sewage system; administered through the local health department42
RV living
Long-term occupancy on private land is unconfirmed5
Tiny home
No specific county occupancy rule confirmed1
Owner-builder
No building exemption confirmed; a homeowner may take out a state plumbing permit for their own residence6
Private well
Use a Kentucky-certified water-well driller; no separate owner-applied construction permit was established7

Who to call

Building permits

Logan County Judge Executive

Logan County Fiscal Court executive; the office to ask which local office or ordinance governs a rural parcel

270-726-3116

200 West Fourth Street, Russellville, KY 42276

Septic permits

Barren River District Health Department Onsite Sewage Program

Soil evaluations, plan review, permits and inspections for onsite sewage systems in Logan County

(270) 781-8039

1109 State Street, Bowling Green, KY 42101

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 10, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Logan County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

Do you need a building permit in Logan County, Kentucky?

For a single-family home, Kentucky's statewide rule says permits, inspections and certificates of occupancy are not required unless a local ordinance requires them189. We could not confirm the controlling Logan County ordinance, so do not treat the state baseline as proof that your parcel is permit-free. Call the Logan County Judge Executive at 270-726-3116 and ask which office handles building questions for the parcel's address10. Kentucky nevertheless applies its residential code to covered one-family dwellings, two-family dwellings and townhouses, while manufactured homes follow a separate statutory framework11. A plumbing construction permit is also required before plumbing is installed or altered, regardless of whether a local building permit applies12.

Who handles Logan County building permits, and how do you reach them?

We could not confirm a Logan County building-permit office or application process from an official county page. Start with the Logan County Judge Executive at 200 West Fourth Street, Russellville, KY 42276, or 270-726-3116, and ask for the office that serves the parcel's exact location10. That location matters because Kentucky fiscal courts may adopt construction regulations and a county permit system, but the state law granting that authority does not prove Logan County adopted one13. For plumbing, Kentucky requires a permit before construction, installation or alteration, and permits may be issued to a licensed master plumber or to a homeowner doing plumbing in the homeowner's own residence, with one homeowner permit for a new home per individual in any five-year period126. If development is in an identified floodplain, both state and local floodplain permits are required, so also ask the county for its current floodplain coordinator14.

Does Logan County, Kentucky have zoning?

We could not confirm whether zoning applies throughout unincorporated Logan County. Kentucky law allows a fiscal court and other legislative bodies in a planning unit to enact zoning after the required comprehensive-plan elements are adopted, but that statewide authority does not establish that a Logan County zoning ordinance governs your tract3. Ask the Logan County Judge Executive which planning body has jurisdiction over the parcel and request the current zoning map, use table and any recorded land-use restrictions10. Until that answer is in hand, minimum lot size, setbacks, building height, lot coverage and minimum dwelling size remain unconfirmed for unincorporated land. A parcel inside an incorporated city can face municipal rules that do not apply outside city limits. If you plan to divide land, Kentucky generally requires planning-commission plat approval within a planning-unit jurisdiction before the county clerk records the plat15.

How do septic permits work in Logan County?

Logan County onsite sewage is administered through the local health department under Kentucky's statewide program164. Contact the Barren River District Health Department Onsite Sewage Program at (270) 781-8039; the program performs soil evaluations, reviews installation drawings, issues permits and inspects completed systems17. Obtain the permit before constructing, installing or altering any regulated onsite sewage system2. Every installed, altered or repaired onsite system must be inspected by a certified inspector, and installation inspection normally occurs before backfilling18. Only about 39.1% of Logan County soils are mapped without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so make the site evaluation an early purchase contingency rather than assuming a standard layout will work19. Where sewer is unavailable, Kentucky plumbing rules direct the house drain to an approved private sewage-disposal system20.

The septic permit follows the site evaluation, and the application needs a detailed drawing, specifications and the permit fee; the permit expires one year after issuance unless the state grants an extension21. A variance cannot waive the site evaluation or the system inspection22.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Logan County?

We could not confirm a Logan County rule allowing or prohibiting long-term RV occupancy on private land. Kentucky's temporary-vehicle provision covers sleeping for less than 12 hours in a vehicle lawfully parked on a public road, street or parking lot; it does not authorize permanent RV living on private property5. We also could not confirm a Logan County rule specifically addressing tiny-home occupancy, minimum dwelling size or setbacks. Before buying, give the Logan County Judge Executive the parcel address and ask which county or municipal planning authority controls occupancy and placement10. Any occupied structure still needs lawful wastewater disposal: where sewer is unavailable, the house drain must connect to an approved private sewage system, and regulated onsite systems require permits and inspections2023. Treat an RV hookup or composting-toilet plan as unresolved until the health department and the applicable land-use office approve the proposal.

Building a home in Logan County: what should you do first?

  1. Confirm whether the parcel is unincorporated or inside a city, then call the Logan County Judge Executive at 270-726-3116 for the current building, zoning and floodplain contacts10.
  1. Ask whether a local ordinance requires a single-family building permit, inspection or certificate of occupancy; Kentucky does not require those items for a single-family dwelling unless a local ordinance does189.
  1. Arrange the health department's soil evaluation and obtain the onsite-sewage permit before septic work begins217.
  1. Obtain the state plumbing permit before plumbing construction or alteration12.
  1. If the driveway meets a Kentucky state highway, apply in writing to the Department of Highways district engineer before constructing a new farm or single-family approach24.
  1. If the site lies in an identified floodplain, secure both state and local floodplain permits before development14.

What should you check before buying land in Logan County?

Start with wastewater feasibility: only about 39.1% of Logan County soils are mapped without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field, and the district health department evaluates soil before permitting a system1917. Confirm legal access and identify the road owner; a new farm or single-family driveway onto a state highway needs a written application to the Department of Highways district engineer24. Check the flood map because development in an identified Kentucky floodplain requires both state and local permits14. For a private well, hire a Kentucky-certified water-well driller because the person constructing, altering, repairing or abandoning the well must hold the appropriate certificate7. Finally, budget around Logan County's roughly 0.6% effective property-tax rate and median annual bill of about $945, while verifying the actual parcel assessment before closing2526.

A farmstead of 10 acres or more outside municipal limits, with a registered bona fide agricultural use, is exempt from Kentucky's Chapter 318 plumbing requirements, but that exemption does not waive the Kentucky Building Code or Residential Code27.

Watch-outs

  • Do not assume rural Logan County land is permit-free: the local single-family permit ordinance and countywide zoning status could not be confirmed, so ask the Logan County Judge Executive for a parcel-specific answer10.
  • A septic permit and inspection are required even when the homeowner installs the system218.
  • Development in an identified floodplain needs both state and local floodplain permits14.

Sources

  1. 815 KAR 7:125, Kentucky Residential Code (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  2. 902 KAR 10:110 — Issuance of Permits, quoted and re-checked
  3. KRS 100.201 — Interim and permanent land use regulations authorized (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  4. Onsite Sewage Disposal Systems Program, quoted and re-checked
  5. KRS 511.110 — Unlawful camping (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  6. Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction plumbing frequently asked questions, quoted and re-checked
  7. 401 KAR 6:320. Certification of water well drillers and water well driller assistants (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. 815 KAR 7:125, Kentucky Residential Code (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. 815 KAR 7:125, Kentucky Residential Code (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Logan County Judge Executive (logancounty.ky.gov)
  11. 815 KAR 7:120 Kentucky Building Code (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Division of Plumbing Fee Change and Permit Information (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. KRS 67.380 — Authority of fiscal court to regulate construction of buildings (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Find Your Flood Zone (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. KRS 100.277 — Commission approval required for subdivisions (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Barren River District Health Department - Onsite Sewage (2026 county census)
  17. Barren River District Health Department Onsite Sewage Program (barrenriverhealth.org)
  18. 902 KAR 10:085. System Installation Inspection (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  20. 815 KAR 20:130. House sewers and storm water piping; methods of installation (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. 902 KAR 10:085 Kentucky on-site sewage disposal systems, quoted and re-checked
  22. Onsite Sewage Disposal Systems Program, quoted and re-checked
  23. 815 KAR 20:130. House sewers and storm water piping; methods of installation (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. 603 KAR 1:020 Driveway approaches, entrances; construction and maintenance (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  27. KRS 318.015, Application of chapter and of state plumbing code, quoted and re-checked

Written October 10, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Found land here? Start a Property Hunt →

Compared with neighboring counties

Unlike 4 of its 6 neighbors, Logan County requires a building permit only in limited cases.

RuleLogan CountyTodd CountySimpson CountyWarren CountyButler CountyChristian CountyMuhlenberg County
Building permitLimitedLimitedRequiredRequiredNot requiredRequiredLimited
County zoningNot publishedNoYesYesNoNoNo
Septic permitsCounty Health Dept.County Health Dept.Barren River District Health Dept.Barren River District Health Dept.Barren River District Health Dept.County Health Dept.County Health Dept.

County locator

Logan County in Kentucky

65
County map
Logan County highlighted among the Kentucky counties · colored by Index score

How Logan County scores

Seclusion41100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency80100% ev.
Admin Boringness6068% ev.
Durability61100% ev.
Property Autonomy33100% ev.
Carry Cost80100% ev.

Evidence strength: 95%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$201kTypical home
0.6%Property tax
$6,404Land / acre
51.8"Annual rain
3.1% of yrsSevere drought
10.7 / yr (+9.8)Mid-century 100°F days
14.3 daysMid-century dry spell
2.4" (+7.5%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.67×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,582Home insurance / yr
-0.3% / yrInsurance growth
0.56%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
39,803People within 30 min
3,421,913People within 2 hr
36,096Radius comparison (15 mi)
51.2People / sq mi
0.6%Federal land
88.7%Land at 15% slope or less
39.1%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
135,511 acWorkable land screen
31.9%Wooded land
70.3 tonsBiomass / forest ac
58°FAvg temp

Scout Logan County

Camp here before you commitBook a few nights nearby on Hipcamp →Already own land here?Earn money hosting campers — get $100 when you become a Hipcamp host →

Some links are affiliate or referral links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you.

Property hunt

Find land. Bring the promising ones back.

Search live inventory elsewhere, then cost and vet each candidate here. No copied listings, account, or paid data feed.

View your full hunt →
ZillowLand & lotsRealtor.comLand listingsLandSearchRural & vacant land

Each button opens a current land search for Logan County. Listing sites control their own results and filters.

Analyze a property
Add setup-cost allowances

Use rough quotes or placeholders. Blank fields count as $0.

Working estimate

—land + entered setup costs
Asking $ / acre
—
Setup allowance
—
All-in $ / acre
—

A planning estimate, not a valuation or contractor quote. The USDA benchmark includes farm land and buildings; it is context, not a parcel comp.

Before an offer

Parcel due diligence

0/8 checked

Saved properties and checklist progress stay on this device. Bolthole Index does not receive them.

Cities and towns in Logan County

Inside a city or town, that city usually issues building permits and sets zoning; the county’s rules above cover unincorporated land. Septic, wells and floodplain rules usually stay with the county or state everywhere.

Adairville · Auburn · Lewisburg · Russellville

Answers from the rulebook for Logan County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Logan County rules

  • Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

    Onsite sewage regulation and administration for Logan County through the Barren River District Health Department.

    • The Kentucky Cabinet states the program is administered through local health departments.
    • The Barren River District Health Department serves Logan County.
    “Barren River District Health Department - serving Barren, Butler, Edmonson, Hart, Logan, Metcalfe, Simpson and Warren counties”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction, installation, or alteration of onsite sewage disposal systems in Logan County.

    • The application is submitted to the local health department certified inspector having jurisdiction.
    • A DFS-307 application and permit is required.
    • The state onsite sewage disposal permit fee is $50, plus any fee established by the local board of health.
    • Cluster-system plan review is submitted to the Environmental Management Branch and carries a $600 fee payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer.
    • Except as otherwise provided, permits are issued only to certified installers.

    onsite sewage disposal permit fee: 50 USD (plus the required fee established by the local board of health) · cluster system plan review fee: 600 USD (payable by check or money order to the Kentucky State Treasurer)

    “Except as otherwise provided by subsection (4) of this section, permits to construct, install, or alter on-site sewage disposal systems shall be issued only to certified installers.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Construction, installation, or alteration of an onsite sewage disposal system serving property in Logan County.
      “After the site evaluation has been conducted, a permit to construct, install, or alter an on-site sewage disposal system shall be obtained prior to construction of any portion of that system.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Onsite sewage systems in Logan County.

    • Local health department septic inspectors perform site evaluations and inspections.
    • A variance cannot waive site evaluation or system inspection.
    • A local health department may adopt more specific subdivision requirements if not in conflict with the regulation.
    “A variance shall not be granted: To waive of site evaluation or system inspection;”

Kentucky rules that apply here

  • Building permitNot required (with conditions)

    Single-family dwellings constructed in Kentucky under the Kentucky Residential Code.

    • A local ordinance may independently require a permit.
    • The 2015 International Residential Code and 2018 Kentucky Residential Code apply to the covered residential construction.
    • This claim does not determine municipal or county permit ordinances.
    “Permits, inspections, and certificates of occupancy shall not be required for a single-family dwelling unless required by local ordinance.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    A homeowner personally performing plumbing, sewerage, or drainage work in a home actually occupied by the homeowner or in a home to be constructed by the homeowner for the homeowner's own personal residential use, including in Logan County.

    • This is a conditional homeowner plumbing permit, not a general exemption from building-code or construction-permit requirements.
    • The permit application must be made before work begins.
    • The homeowner must file an affidavit stating that the homeowner will abide by the applicable requirements.
    • All work must comply with the Kentucky State Plumbing Code.
    • All work must be personally performed by the owner.
    • Only one homeowner permit for construction of a new home may be issued to an individual in a five-year period.

    homeowner permits for construction of a new home: 1 permit per individual per five-year period

    “All the work shall be personally performed by the owner. Only one homeowner permit for construction of a new home shall be issued to an individual in a five-year period.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Conditional — An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies.
      “KRS 198B.650 to 198B.689 shall not apply to: [...] (3) An individual owner of real property while practicing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on or within property owned and occupied by the individual;”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Buildings constructed statewide in Kentucky, including residential and nonresidential construction subject to the Kentucky Building Code and Kentucky Residential Code.

    • The 2015 International Building Code is the mandatory state building code for buildings constructed in Kentucky, subject to Kentucky amendments in the 2018 Kentucky Building Code.
    • One-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, and townhouses are governed by 815 KAR 7:125 and the 2015 International Residential Code with Kentucky amendments in the 2018 Kentucky Residential Code.
    • Permits, inspections, and certificates of occupancy are not required for a single-family dwelling unless required by local ordinance.
    • Residential occupancies that are not single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, or townhouses must comply with the 2015 International Building Code and the 2018 Kentucky Building Code.
    • Manufactured homes are governed by KRS 227.550 through 227.665.

    base building code: 2015 International Building Code (Kentucky amendments in the 2018 Kentucky Building Code supersede conflicting provisions) · residential code: 2015 International Residential Code; 2018 Kentucky Residential Code amendments (Applies to single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, and townhouses under 815 KAR 7:125) · mandatory effective date: 2019-01-01

    “Building Code. The 2015 International Building shall be the mandatory state building code for all buildings constructed in Kentucky except that: (1) The Kentucky amendments in the 2018 Kentucky Building Code shall supersede any conflicting provision in the 2015 International Building Code; (2) One (1) family dwellings, two (2) family dwellings, and townhouses shall be governed by 815 KAR 7:125; and (3) Manufactured homes shall be governed by KRS 227.550 through 227.665.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Adopted (with conditions) — Buildings constructed in Kentucky, with one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses governed by the Kentucky Residential Code and manufactured homes governed by KRS 227.550 through 227.665.
      “Building Code. The 2015 International Building shall be the mandatory state building code for all buildings constructed in Kentucky except that:”
    • Adopted (with conditions) — Construction in Logan County subject to the Kentucky Building Code or Kentucky Residential Code.
      “The Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction adopted the 2018 Kentucky Building Code, Second Edition and the 2018 Kentucky Residential Code, Second Edition on August 3, 2019.”
    • Adopted — Mandatory Kentucky residential building-code standards for single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, and townhouses constructed statewide, including unincorporated areas.
      “Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the 2015 International Residential Code for One (1) and Two (2) Family Dwellings (IRC) shall be the mandatory state residential building code for all single-family dwellings, two (2) family dwellings, and townhouses constructed in Kentucky, except that the Kentucky amendments in the 2018 Kentucky Residential Code shall supersede any conflicting provision in the 2015 IRC.”
  • InspectionsNot required (with conditions)

    Single-family dwellings constructed in Kentucky under the Kentucky Residential Code.

    • A local ordinance may independently require inspections.
    • This claim does not determine municipal or county inspection ordinances.
    “Permits, inspections, and certificates of occupancy shall not be required for a single-family dwelling unless required by local ordinance.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Single-family dwellings constructed in Logan County and elsewhere in Kentucky.

    • Certificates of occupancy are not required for a single-family dwelling unless required by local ordinance.
    • The applicable Logan County local ordinance was not located.
    “Permits, inspections, and certificates of occupancy shall not be required for a single-family dwelling unless required by local ordinance.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Not required (with conditions) — Single-family dwellings constructed in Kentucky under the Kentucky Residential Code.
      “Permits, inspections, and certificates of occupancy shall not be required for a single-family dwelling unless required by local ordinance.”
  • Zoning districtsPartial

    Kentucky's statewide statutory framework for zoning-district texts and maps adopted by local planning units; the statutes do not provide a statewide inventory of individual district names or boundaries.

    • Zoning is enacted by a city or county under KRS Chapter 100 rather than automatically imposed statewide.
    • The zoning text must list the types of zones that may be used and the regulations for each zone.
    • The zoning map must show the boundaries of the area to be zoned and the boundaries of each zone.
    • Before enactment, the planning commission must prepare the zoning text and map and hold at least one public hearing.
    • After the hearing, the planning commission submits the approved text and map with its recommendation to legislative bodies and fiscal courts for adoption; passage requires a majority of the entire legislative body or fiscal court.
    • Planning units may be independent city or county units, joint city-county units, or regional groups of counties and cities.
    • Joint city-county and regional planning-unit jurisdiction is coterminous with political boundaries; an independent city planning unit may exercise consent-based extraterritorial jurisdiction up to five miles for subdivision and other regulations, subject to statutory limits.
    • KRS 100.203 states an effective date of July 13, 2004; KRS 100.207 states an effective date of July 15, 1988; those dates are included as source-stated statutory effective dates, not as dates for any particular local zoning map.
    “Cities and counties may enact zoning regulations which shall contain: (1) A text, which shall list the types of zones which may be used,”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Camping or sleeping in the specified public and private pedestrian or vehicle-use areas statewide.

    • The person must knowingly enter or remain in a listed area with intent to sleep or camp.
    • The area must not have been designated for sleeping or camping, or the individual must lack authorization to sleep or camp there.
    • The listed areas include streets, sidewalks, areas under bridges or underpasses, paths, parks, cemeteries, and other areas designated for pedestrians or vehicles, including ingress or egress areas to businesses, homes, or public buildings.
    • The first offense is a violation; a second or subsequent offense, or a first offense where the person refuses to cease, is a Class B misdemeanor.
    • The section does not prohibit customary and temporary use of recreational camping areas, rest areas, or other properties specifically designated for resting or sleeping.
    • Temporary sleeping in a vehicle parked lawfully on a public road, street, or parking lot is not prevented when sleeping and parking occur for less than twelve (12) hours.

    temporary vehicle sleeping period: < 12 hours (The vehicle must be parked lawfully on a public road, street, or parking lot.)

    “A person is guilty of unlawful camping when he or she knowingly enters or remains on a public or private street, sidewalk, area under a bridge or underpass, path, park, cemetery, or other area designated for use by pedestrians or vehicles, including areas used for ingress or egress to businesses, homes, or public buildings, with the intent to sleep or camp in that area, when the area has not been designated for the purpose of sleeping or camping or the individual lacks authorization to sleep or camp in the area.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Allowed (with conditions) — Temporary camping locations for unsheltered homeless individuals designated by local governments under Kentucky law.
      “A local government may designate indoor or outdoor areas with defined boundaries in an area zoned for commercial or industrial use, separate from any area frequently used for public purposes, as a temporary camping location for unsheltered homeless individuals.”
    • Limited — Temporary parking of recreational vehicles on public or private property associated with specified publicly announced events.
      “Nothing in KRS 219.310 to 219.410 shall be construed to apply to the temporary parking of recreational vehicles on public or private property, for not more than thirty (30) days, associated with festivals, fairs, sporting events, yard sales, or other publicly announced events.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Accessory dwelling units on lots containing a single-family home in a county containing a consolidated local government, when a new lease is initiated after June 27, 2025 and the lot is in a traditional single-family home zone.

    • The owner may not lease or allow the accessory dwelling unit to be occupied unless the owner primarily resides in the single-family home, multifamily housing unit, or accessory dwelling unit on the lot.
    • The restriction applies only in a county containing a consolidated local government.
    • A traditional single-family home zone is a zone that, as of January 1, 2025, did not include multifamily homes as a permitted use.
    • The restriction does not apply to a lot containing only one single-family home and no accessory dwelling unit.
    • The statutory effective date is June 27, 2025.

    new lease applicability date: > 2025-06-27 (The statute applies to new leases initiated after June 27, 2025.)

    “In a county containing a consolidated local government, for new leases initiated after June 27, 2025, a property owner shall not lease or allow to be occupied any single-family home, multifamily housing unit, or accessory dwelling unit located on a lot that contains a single-family home and that is located in a traditional single-family home zone, unless the owner primarily resides in the single-family home or multifamily housing unit or an accessory dwelling unit on the lot.”
  • Off-grid sanitationProhibited

    Use of seepage pits, cesspools, or dry wells as onsite sewage disposal systems statewide in Kentucky, subject to the Section 13 exception.

    • The prohibition is subject to the exception provided in Section 13 of 902 KAR 10:085.
    • Section 13 permits limited repair or alteration of existing seepage-pit systems when municipal or public sewage treatment is unavailable and repair or alteration is required because of malfunction, damage, or upgrade.
    • A limited single-family vacant-lot exception applies to certain lots purchased on or before May 1, 1992, if bona fide construction began by December 25, 1992.
    “Except as provided in Section 13 of this administrative regulation, use of seepage pits, cesspools, or dry wells;”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Well permitNot required

    Construction or abandonment of a private water well by a property owner statewide in Kentucky.

    • Construction, modification, and abandonment must be performed by a Kentucky Certified Water Well Driller.
    • The certified driller must complete and submit required documentation within sixty days after completion.
    • The conclusion concerns owner permitting applications and fees; it does not eliminate the separate driller-certification requirement.

    well documentation submission deadline: 60 days after completion

    “there are no permitting applications or fees for constructing or abandoning a water well required of the property owner.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Buildings subject to the Kentucky State Plumbing Code.

    • A building must have an independent connection to either a public or private sewer or sewer system.
    • If a sewer is not available, the house drain must connect to an approved private sewage disposal system.
    • The cited rule does not establish a universal requirement to connect to public water service.
    “If a sewer is not available, the house drain from a building shall connect with an approved private sewage disposal system.”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Exemption from Kentucky Chapter 318 plumbing requirements for qualifying farmsteads in Logan County, including farm dwellings and other farm buildings and structures incident to operation and maintenance of the farm.

    • The property must be a farmstead consisting of a farm dwelling together with other farm buildings and structures incident to operation and maintenance of the farm.
    • The farmstead must be situated on ten (10) acres or more of land.
    • The land must be located outside the corporate limits of a municipality.
    • The associated farm must have a bona fide agricultural or horticultural land use and be qualified by and registered with the property valuation administrator in the county.
    • The exemption is limited to KRS Chapter 318 plumbing requirements; it does not establish an exemption from the Kentucky Building Code or Kentucky Residential Code.
    • The state plumbing code continues to apply to public buildings regardless of location.

    minimum acreage: >= 10 acres · municipal location: outside corporate limits of a municipality

    “This chapter shall not apply to farmsteads.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Conditional — Division of land for agricultural use under Kentucky subdivision law.
      “provided that a division of land for agricultural use and not involving a new street shall not be deemed a subdivision.”
    • Conditional — Agritourism buildings subject to the Kentucky Building Code.
      “An agritourism building built prior to December 31, 2016, shall be exempt from the following requirements within the Kentucky Building Code: (a) An agritourism building built prior to December 31, 2016, shall not be required to comply with the seismic requirements within the Kentucky Building Code; and (b) If an agritourism building has a capacity of four hundred (400) persons or is six thousand (6,000) square feet or less, an agritourism building built prior to December 31, 2016, shall not require the services of an architect licensed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land within a Kentucky planning-unit jurisdiction.

    • All subdivision of land must receive planning-commission approval.
    • A person may not subdivide land before securing approval of a planning-commission plat.
    • A subdivision plat may not be recorded by the county clerk until commission approval is entered on the plat.
    • The statute's agricultural-use exception is addressed separately in KRS 100.111(22).
    “All subdivision of land shall receive commission approval. No person or his agent shall subdivide any land before securing the approval of the planning commission of a plat designating the areas to be subdivided, and no plat of a subdivision of land within the planning unit jurisdiction shall be recorded by the county clerk until the plat has been approved by the commission and the approval entered thereon in writing by the chairman, secretary, or other duly authorized officer of the commission.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    New or additional private farm or single-family dwelling driveway approaches on Kentucky Department of Highways rights-of-way.

    • The owner or occupant must make formal written application to the District Engineer of the Department of Highways.
    • The applicant must furnish required drainage pipe, tile, or other drainage structure at the applicant's own expense.
    • The Department may participate up to $300 for specified construction work.
    • No indemnity bond or other security is required unless estimated construction cost within the right-of-way exceeds $300.
    • The District Engineer may approve or disapprove the application.

    department participation maximum: <= 300 USD (specified drainage, grading, and surfacing work within right-of-way limits)

    “The owner or occupant of property, who desires to construct new or additional private farm or single family dwelling driveway approaches, shall make formal application in writing, to the District Engineer of the Department of Highways.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — New, additional, relocated, or modified driveway entrance approaches serving commercial property or property used for a purpose other than farming or a single-family dwelling.
      “The owner or occupant of property, used for commercial or any purpose other than farming or single family dwelling, who desires to construct new or additional driveway entrance approaches, to relocate, or make other changes in existing driveway entrance approaches thereto, shall make application for a permit to the District Engineer of the Department of Highways upon standard forms furnished by the Transportation Cabinet.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in an identified Kentucky floodplain, including development in mapped A and AE zones.

    • Both a state and local floodplain permit are required for development in an identified floodplain.
    • State and local permits are required for development in A and AE zones.
    • The Kentucky Division of Water issues general or individual floodplain permits.
    • General permits cover eligible activities that do not change the Base Flood Elevation and have minimal flood-risk potential.
    • Developments that do not meet general-permit eligibility or could change the Base Flood Elevation require an individual permit.
    • The source directs applicants to consult the local floodplain coordinator for local requirements.

    general permit nonsubstantial improvement threshold: < 50 percent of structure valuation (including labor)

    “Any development in an identified floodplain in Kentucky requires a state and a local floodplain permit.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Kentucky state plumbing installation permits administered by the Division of Plumbing.

    • Residential one- and two-family permits use a $50 base fee plus $14 per opening.
    • Domestic water heater-only permits are $50.
    • Commercial permits use a $50 base fee plus $20 per opening.
    • Medical gas piping permits use a $50 base fee plus $20 per opening.
    • The fee schedule is stated as effective March 1, 2022.

    residential base permit fee: 50 USD (one- and two-family permits) · residential opening fee: per 14 USD (opening) · commercial base permit fee: 50 USD (commercial permits) · commercial opening fee: per 20 USD (opening)

    “FEE CHANGE - Effective March 1, 2022, Plumbing installation permit fees will be as follows: Residential (One and Two Family) Permits: $50 base permit fee, $14 per opening fee Domestic Water Heater Only Permits: $50 Commercial Permits: $50 base permit fee; $20 per opening fee Medical Gas Piping Permits: $50 base permit fee; $20 per opening fee”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — State Department plan-review and inspection fees applicable where the Department has jurisdiction in Logan County.
      “State Plan Review and Inspection Fees. The fees required by this section shall apply for plan review and inspection by the department.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Plumbing construction and alteration work in Kentucky administered by the Division of Plumbing.

    • A plumbing construction permit must be obtained before construction, installation, or alteration.
    • Permits may be issued to licensed master plumbers or homeowners for plumbing in their own personal residences.
    • Work performed by someone other than a homeowner using the homeowner's own permit must be installed by a licensed journeyman plumber under the supervision of a licensed master plumber.
    • The Division reviews plans for construction on all buildings serving the public and inspects installations for compliance with the Kentucky State Plumbing Code.
    “No person, firm or corporation shall construct, install or alter any plumbing without first having procured a plumbing construction permit from the Division of Plumbing. Plumbing permits may be issued to licensed master plumbers or to homeowners for plumbing in their own personal residences.”
  • Campground & park staysTemporary only (with conditions)

    Sleeping temporarily in a recreational vehicle or other vehicle in a vehicle-based location covered by KRS 511.110.

    • The vehicle must be parked lawfully on a public road, street, or parking lot.
    • Sleeping and parking at the location must occur for less than twelve (12) hours.
    • This provision does not establish permission for long-term or permanent RV occupancy on private land.
    • KRS 511.110 separately prohibits camping in specified areas when the area has not been designated for sleeping or camping or the person lacks authorization.

    maximum sleeping and parking period: < 12 hours

    “Nothing in this section shall prevent a person from sleeping temporarily in his or her vehicle parked lawfully on a public road, street, or parking lot, where the sleeping and parking of the vehicle at the location occur for a period of less than twelve (12) hours.”
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    Kentucky counties' statutory authority to enact zoning regulations, including county-regulated areas outside incorporated municipalities as determined by the applicable planning-unit and political-boundary structure.

    • The statute expressly authorizes both cities and counties to enact zoning regulations.
    • A zoning regulation must contain text listing the types of zones and regulations applicable in each zone, uniform throughout the zone, and provisions for variances, conditional-use permits, and nonconforming uses.
    • Authorized subjects include land activities, structure dimensions and locations, open-space and distance requirements, density, special-interest districts, fringe areas, and activities or structures near thoroughfares, water bodies, public facilities, aircraft facilities, unique places, and floodplains.
    • Agricultural land must have no regulations except that setback lines may be required for streets and highways; floodway or floodplain buildings or structures may be fully regulated; mobile homes and other dwellings may be regulated; and uses under KRS 100.111(2)(c) may be regulated as conditional uses.
    • The applicable planning unit and political boundaries determine the area governed by a county zoning regulation.
    “Cities and counties may enact zoning regulations which shall contain:”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • General — Kentucky counties may adopt permanent land-use regulations, including zoning, through the applicable planning-unit process; this authority reaches county jurisdiction, including unincorporated areas, subject to the statutory planning prerequisites.
      “When all required elements of the comprehensive plan have been adopted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, then the legislative bodies and fiscal courts within the planning unit may enact permanent land use regulations, including zoning and other kinds of growth management regulations”
  • county building authorityGeneral

    Kentucky fiscal courts may adopt and enforce construction regulations and may require building permits for construction in the county, including residential construction in unincorporated areas.

    • The construction regulations must be adopted by county order or resolution.
    • The regulations operate pursuant to KRS 198B.060 and the Uniform State Building Code framework.
    • A county building inspector may administer the regulations.
    • No person may build, erect, construct, reconstruct, remodel, relocate, alter, or repair a building within the county without first obtaining a building permit from the building inspector when the county permit system applies.
    • Permit fees must be reasonable and may not exceed the cost of the service provided.
    • A person aggrieved by the building inspector's ruling, order, or decision may appeal under KRS 198B.070.

    permit fee ceiling: <= cost of the service provided

    “The fiscal court of any county shall have authority, by order or resolution, to adopt, and to enforce, regulations governing construction as defined by KRS 198B.010 pursuant to the provisions of KRS 198B.060.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • General — Kentucky county authority, as a local government, to enforce the Uniform State Building Code and issue building permits within its jurisdiction, including unincorporated residential construction.
      “Each local government shall employ a building official or inspector and other code enforcement personnel as necessary, or shall contract for inspection and code enforcement services in accordance with subsections (8) and (11) of this section to enforce the Uniform State Building Code within the boundaries of its jurisdiction, except that permits, inspections, and certificates of occupancy shall not be mandatory for single-family residences unless a local government passes an ordinance requiring inspections of single-family residences.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • County-wide zoning — Countywide zoning regulation in Logan County, including unincorporated areas.
  • Local zoning — Local zoning within Logan County, including incorporated municipalities and other local authorities.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in unincorporated Logan County.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in unincorporated Logan County.
  • Setbacks — Building setbacks in unincorporated Logan County.
6 more unanswered
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Living off-grid in Logan County, Kentucky

Is Logan County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Logan County scores 65/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: strong self-sufficiency basics: 51.8″/yr rainfall plus 31.9% wooded land and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: a weaker property-autonomy legal backdrop and about 39,803 people within a 30-minute drive.

Do you need a building permit in Logan County, Kentucky?

Logan County requires a building permit only in limited cases (such as floodplains or specific zones). Onsite septic is permitted by Logan County Health Department / Barren River District Health Department (Kentucky DPH). Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Logan County, Kentucky?

Land in Logan County runs about $6,404 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Logan County?

Logan County gets about 51.8" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 3.1% of years.

How remote is Logan County?

A representative private-land location has about 39,803 people within a 30-minute drive and 3,421,913 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

How Logan compares in Kentucky

Compare side-by-side →See all 120 Kentucky counties ranked →